With its ultrahigh resolution power and excellent mass accuracy, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry
is the perfct tool to analyze the “foodome” as the set of all polar
small molecular compounds present in an investigated food sample. We
present here selected applications of this technique in unraveling the
metabolome in complex foods (thermally affected, fermentation products,
distillates) such exemplified with Maillard reaction products or with
wines and spirits. Technical considerations for high resolution mass
analyzers are provided from a practical point of view. Moreover, aspects
of food safety and nutritional quality are covered by presenting
applications to the mycobolome of Alternaria fungi and vitamins of the folate group, respectively.